All states · New York
Updated October 2026 · ranks 2 of 50
Yes, and faster than in almost any other state
6 kW system · $13,650 after incentives · $2,215 returned in year one
0 yrs25 yrs
A break-even point of 6.2 years is short enough that the decision turns mainly on how long the owner intends to remain in the property. The system is then owned outright for roughly 19 further years of its warranted life.
Yes. At 6.2 years, a purchased system in New York repays its cost faster than in almost any other state. The high retail electricity rate accounts for most of that advantage.
The case modeled here approximates an average New York household on the state average rate of 29.9¢, with an unshaded roof and no financing: $13,650 of capital, $2,215 returned in the first year, and break-even near year 6.2. Above-average consumption, a south-facing roof or a competitive installed price shorten that period; shading, a loan carrying a dealer fee, or a sale within six years lengthen it. Exports earn 29.9¢, close to the retail rate, so daytime occupancy makes little difference to the result.
At 29.9¢ per kilowatt-hour, New York pays 81% more for electricity than the United States average of 16.5¢. A high retail rate is the principal driver of a short payback, since each kilowatt-hour generated displaces an expensive one.
A 6 kW array in New York generates approximately 7,748 kWh a year, below the national median. This is not disqualifying - Germany installs solar at lower irradiance than any US state - but it means the retail electricity rate matters more here than the weather does.
New York operates full-retail net metering. Each exported kilowatt-hour is credited at the same 29.9¢ charged for consumption, so the grid functions as storage and there is no penalty for generating more than is consumed during daylight hours. This is the principal reason payback here is shorter than in states with comparable irradiance.
State support reduces the installed price of $19,800 by $6,150, to $13,650 before financing. This comprises $6,150 of state rebate and tax credit.
A 6 kW system, the size typical of New York households, costs approximately $19,800 installed at $3.3 a watt before deductions. State support reduces this by $6,150, to $13,650. That is well above the $2.85 national median, which is why a high retail rate alone does not shorten the payback here as much as it first appears. Smaller systems cost more per watt and larger ones less, although sizing beyond on-site consumption is not penalized, since exports earn 29.9¢.
| System size | 6 kW |
|---|---|
| Annual production | 7,748 kWh |
| Installed cost | $19,800 |
| Incentives | -$6,150 |
| Net cost | $13,650 |
| Electricity rate | 29.9¢ / kWh |
| Export credit | 29.9¢ / kWh |
| Year-one saving | $2,215 |
| Break-even | 6.2 years |
| 25-year gain | $57,240 |
Of the 50 states published here, New York ranks second for how quickly a bought system repays itself. Fastest right now: Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine. Slowest: South Dakota, Louisiana, North Dakota, Tennessee. Compare them all on the map.
Solar economics change at state lines rather than at county lines, because the export tariff and the netting period do. These states share a border with New York, and the figure each produces on the same assumptions.
About $19,800 installed for a 6 kW system at $3.3 a watt. State support reduces this by $6,150, to $13,650. Larger systems are not penalized here, since exports earn the full 29.9¢.
Yes, and faster than in almost any other state. A 6 kW system breaks even in 6.2 years on the assumptions used here, following the expiry of the 30% federal tax credit on 31 December 2025.
Approximately $2,215 in the first year on a 7,748 kWh system, rising thereafter as New York electricity rates increase. Exports are valued the same as self-consumption at 29.9¢, so the figure holds regardless of daytime occupancy.
A 6 kW array is about 14 modules at 430 W and generates 7,748 kWh a year here, which covers a household using roughly that much. Sizing above on-site use is not penalized here, since exports earn 29.9¢. The sizing calculator works it out from a bill.
Yes, and faster than in almost any other state. The retail rate here is 29.9¢ against a national average of 16.5¢, exports earn 29.9¢, and a 6 kW system breaks even in 6.2 years. What separates New York from states with similar sunshine is the rate and the export tariff, not the weather.
New York operates full-retail net metering.
Generation is taken from NREL PVWatts v8 for the largest metropolitan area in New York, south-facing at 20°. The retail rate is from the EIA and the export credit from the state's net metering rule. The break-even figure incorporates 0.5% annual panel degradation, 3% annual electricity price growth, $150 a year in maintenance and an inverter replacement in year 12. The federal credit is set to $0 — Section 25D expired 31 December 2025. Credits accumulate across the year, so close to 95% of generation is valued at the full retail rate. Full method and sources. Privacy. Export terms checked against the state source in August 2026.
These are estimates for comparison between states, not quotations. Roof orientation, shading, consumption pattern and installer pricing all affect the result. At least three written quotations are advisable before purchase.